Joyous Laughter

This evening, our home was filled with the joyous sound of laughter.  Both from my husband, Ryan, and I along with our son Liam.  Ryan enjoys playing with Liam in any way he can that will get him to giggle or chuckle.  Most of the time he is satisfied with a small laugh, but strives for the belly laughs. :)

One particular moment, in which we both wish we could have captured with the camera in time, was when Ryan walked into Liam's room to find him in a very interesting position.  With his head on the mattress, Liam had somehow gotten his legs up in the air, with his tummy up against the rails, and was doing a headstand (with his neck) on the side of the crib!  All while playfully screaming. You can imagine the laughter that followed!  How does a 4 and a half month old get into such a predicament??!!  He didn't seem to mind though, but rest assured that I was concerned enough about him injuring himself that I made Ryan quickly move him before he could even get his camera out to take a picture.

The other instances in which we were filled with joy and laughter are just all of the little things that little one's do, but because he is our child, we found them to be the funniest things on earth.  One if these things was the release of a bodily function that just so happened to have been done in a hilarious way (unbeknownst to the little person who did it).  :)

I cherish these moments, and never want to wish them away.

Sniffles, giggles, and laughter.

Sniffles, gags, sneezes, and coughs are parading around our house these days.  The newest addition to our family (he's only been with us for 19 weeks and 3 days - or 4 and a half months, whichever you prefer) is the leader of this parade.  I have spent more time checking to see if he is still breathing than I have been anything else.  It's not a fun feeling.  I get so worried that in the middle of the night, his little nose will be stopped up, and he will have so much drainage in his throat that he will get choked and not be able to breathe.

On a lighter note, I am enjoying watching our little one learn new things.  He is becoming a master at holding things with his hands, and reaching out to grab things.  His form of transportation has long been rolling around from place to place.  And we get all the babbles, coos, giggles, and chuckles we could ever ask for.  I love listening to him talk to himself while I'm busy doing something else.  It sure does make this momma's heart swell.

Pretty soon we are going to have to figure out a method of keeping this crazy boy contained in one location.  The more mobile he becomes, the more I realize just how crazy life is going to get once he is 100% mobile!  I guess that's what they make play pens for - to have a safe place to confine your small child to so they aren't getting into everything every five seconds!

I'm just praying for the dogs, and the day they will no longer be able to mind their own business.  The day when their ears and tails become new toys, and they enter into an eternal game of tag, in which they are never "it".  I foresee many pictures, videos, and laughs to come.

Unconditional

Life as of late has been a new adventure. I am learning how to be a mother. I am learning how to balance being a wife and being a mother at the same time. I am learning how to take control when things get out of control (a.k.a.-every possible area on a child that could expel anything, does. LOL) Most of all, I am learning how to have unconditional love.

For me, unconditional love is hard to give. I get angry when people don't follow the rules of the road. I get angry when people treat others unfairly. And the list goes on. So, for me, to show someone love, no matter what they say or do, is not something that comes naturally. However, loving my child unconditionally, so far, has proven to be the easiest thing on earth. There is nothing that compares to the love you have for your child. There is something magical about it. Maybe it has to do with the fact that a single human being (or 2 or 20, depending on how many children you have) possesses both yourself and the one person on earth who is your best friend, your soul mate, the source of your passion, etc.) Two people, combined together to create one person. It's phenomenal. My minuscule little mind cannot always grasp this concept. All I know is, I love my child like I have never loved anyone before. In fact, I have to be cautious that I do not put him above my husband (but that is another topic for another day). 


 Loving my son comes naturally. It's easy. And for now, he loves me back. It's easy to have unconditional love for someone like this. It's easy to love someone who loves you in return. But how easy is it to love someone who hates you? Not very. Well let's not even go that far with it. Let's just ask ourselves: how easy is it to love someone you don't know? Still the answer is the same. Not very. 


Something my child is helping me learn, is how to do this. How to love someone when they don't love you back. How to even love someone who is unlovable. If I can have this kind of love for my child, then I know I am capable. Because the truth is, my child is not perfect. Even at this young age he messes up. He spits up on my nice outfit. He screams when everyone is being quiet. And although these are small things in comparison to the larger things we have to encounter with others, it's a small step in the direction of learning.  


I thank the God I serve for this blessing in my life. I pray I never take him for granted. He is a gift. And I love him. Unconditionally.